The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-19
DRAYTON ISLAND.
Groves and Truck-farms and Nurseries,
Rich Soil and Cultivated People.


George. Drnyton Island offers its robe.
covered with green embroidery 90 the
carressing lips Of summer sea. and
claims, in sunshine and in storm. the hom-
age of her restless slave. The tall pines
make melodious her lofty crest, the
broad leaves Of the palmetto rustic from
the capitals OF their lofty columns. and the
flowing mosses droop around her oaks 20
hide from the ewes of the profane a view
Ia, close Of her more secret beauties.
She is a very Dian Of fairylands and her
fragrant fruits are worthy Of the queen
who nurtured them.
The island early captivsted attention
and one grove derives interest from age
as well as the wealth IL has poured into
the Golfers of successive owners. The
whole contains neary two thousand
acres and is a triangle almost equilateral
with its base 20 the northeast and its
apex 10 the southwest. On North Point
is Edwin Kirby's fine grovs-on the
western shore il Wright's grove and
truck farm. Here has been grown much
of the early vegetable crop which has
made Drayton Island famous, and the
soil is fertile as any in Florida. The
groves also are healthy and Of vigorous
growth--flner trees or heavier bearers
cannot be found Near Mr.. wright's
house stand several date trees whose
fruit is unused hut puts in it's appearance
regularly by way Of proving how much
81 our resources is vet wasted wealth
On the base Of the triangle the virgin
forest as yet presents a front, whose out
line IN broken i'm only one place where a
negro has a comfortable home, n promis-
ing grove and fine garden from which
he makes heavy shipments Of vegetables.
Passing around Cypress Point we find
ourselves in the old Rembert grove,
which was once the show place OF this
section. Its glory IL now sadly decayed
---no longer does the overfiowing hos
pitality of its former owner light up the
closed winds vs. or follow the visitor
through the long vistas Of stately orange
trees But we are glad 10 see that
energetic steps are being taken 10 make
reparation for past neglect, and we hope
the trees which have been made 10 WELD
season after season, mighty burdens OF
golden fruit till their strength has been
exhausted by the weakening OF the soil.
will now he rejuvennted and enter upon
a new lease of life.
Next, fronting the full glow Of the
rising sun. which touches to brighter
life the rolling waves Of Lake George
and rests in quiet benediction on the
verdurous beauty of the shore. we reach
the cottage of DE Wayne Pullen. Here
is grove which is seven years old, the
trees are symmetrical in shape, Of fine
size. healthy and vigorous. The most
critical eye could find no ground ON
which to rest AN objection. and the
whole IL rendered still more inviting by
the comfortable cottages In front OF which
lies a spacious strawberry plot covered
with fine fruit shyly hiding under crisp
bright leaves.
Next is the residence Of DR.. Pettitt.
whose grove occupies ground covered
four years ago by the heaviest hammock
growth. The oaks and bays and mag
nolias and vines were felled, the stumps
were dug out aud the whole burned.
Three years ago the trees were set, and
to-day they are twelve feet high, with
wide-spreading branches, and finer
grove Of the same age cannot be found
in the State. The Doctor also grows
heavy crops OF vegetables lie has now
10000 cabbages industriously engaged In
the work Of putting on hard heads for
Northern markets.
The separation between the young
grove OF DIR. Pettitt and that Of State
Treasurer T.. s. Grill il marked only by
the loftier crests and wide spreading
branches Of the older trees. For the latter
have been In vigorous growth for the last
twelve years, and the time has long been
past when vegetables could be grown boz
tween the trees. The front of the grove
il guarded by magnificent oaks, the or
ange trees are II large size, entirely
healthy and give good crops. The soil is
of a rich loam and bumus In great guam
tity IL returned 10y the heavy burden Of
grass and pea-vines annually plowed un-
der. The trees have always been healthy.
and suffered little from the cold 81 last
winter. There has never been much care
full pruning, and nature has been allowed
Ia work her own sweet will, which II
amply yindicated by the result.
In marked contrast IN this respect 10
the Grill grove is the neighboring one
Daniel DJrling In q practical horticui-
turirt, and he has made. on Drayton
Island beautiful home ard q grove
which has been tended carefully as q
child and loved like a wife. The trees
are now shading the grounds 80 that he
cannot grow tons Of vegetables as for
merry. but the beautiful lawn In front of
/ his house is still the sInoothest and bright
est in Florida. and he takes the same
pride in his oranges and lemons that he
did some years ago in his early beets
and enormous cabbages.
There are other groves and nurseries
ON Drayton Island we would like TO de-
scribe. but enough hss been said 10 vim
dlcate it's well earned reputation, and
more than hundred such settlements
are within a few hours ride ~ PalAtka
by railway or steamer.
To Ny yonng Friends.